Design and applications of morphing aircraft and their structures

Abstract

Morphing aircraft can adaptively regulate their aerodynamic layout to meet the demands of varying flight conditions, improve their aerodynamic efficiency, and reduce their energy consumption. The design and fabrication of high-performance, lightweight, and intelligent morphing structures have become a hot topic in advanced aircraft design. This paper discusses morphing aircraft development history, structural characteristics, existing applications, and future prospects. First, some conventional mechanical morphing aircraft are examined with focus on their morphing modes, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages. Second, the novel applications of several technologies for morphing unmanned aerial vehicles, including additive manufacturing for fabricating complex morphing structures, lattice technology for reducing structural weight, and multi-mode morphing combined with flexible skins and foldable structures, are summarized and categorized. Moreover, in consideration of the further development of active morphing aircraft, the paper reviews morphing structures driven by smart material actuators, such as shape memory alloy and macro-fiber composites, and analyzes their advantages and limitations. Third, the paper discusses multiple challenges, including flexible structures, flexible skins, and control systems, in the design of future morphing aircraft. Lastly, the development and application of morphing structures in the aerospace field are discussed to provide a reference for future research and engineering applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

morphing aircraft / additive manufacturing / lattice structure / smart material / flexible structure / flexible skin

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Nomenclature

ACTE	Adaptive compliant trailing edge
AM	Additive manufacturing
DARPA	Defense advanced research projects agency
DE	Dielectric elastomer
EMC	Elastomeric matrix composites
L/D	Lift-to-drag ratio
MAS	Morphing aircraft structure
MAV	Micro air vehicle
MAW	Mission adaptive wing
MFC	Macro-fiber composite
NWPU	Northwestern Polytechnical University
PTERA	Prototype-technology evaluation research aircraft
SAW	Spanwise adaptive wing
SLA	Stereolithography
SMA	Shape memory alloy
SME	Shape memory effect
SMP	Shape memory polymer
UAV	Unmanned aerial vehicle
VCCTEF	Variable camber continuous trailing edge flap
VGC	Variable-geometry chevron

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Key Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 92271205, 51790171, 51735005, and 11620101002).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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